Grosvenor demolition brings back memories for council leader

Tuesday 17 January 2017

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17 January 2017

The leader of Sheffield City Council, Councillor Julie Dore was on the site of the former Grosvenor House Hotel, where she held her wedding reception 30 years ago, on Tuesday 17 January at 2pm as demolition works continue to make way for the new Sheffield Retail Quarter.

The council leader also held her 40th birthday there, where she saw the Bootleg Beatles.

Contractors from DSM Demolition Limited are demolishing the remainder of the 10-storey hotel block with a 180-tonne high reach (70metre) machine with a concrete pulveriser attachment.

The 1960s-built former five-star hotel, and associated buildings, are being demolished to make way for the first phase of Sheffield’s new retail quarter, with building work set to commence in Spring this year.

DSM Demolition Limited has been carrying out a full demolition on the site, a process that has included asbestos removal and soft stripping of the remaining internal aspects of the building shop fronts and debris.

The Pinstone Street and Furnival Gate elevations were deconstructed by hand with the remainder of the building demolished mechanically.

Julie Dore got married and held her reception at the Grosvenor Hotel in 1986.

Banking giant HSBC has been confirmed as the first anchor tenant in a premium office block set for completion in 2019, subject to planning permission.

Councillor Julie Dore, leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “Standing on the site of what will become the Sheffield Retail Quarter is really something to behold. The demolition teams have worked tirelessly over Christmas to keep the project on schedule and make this dramatic change to the city’s skyline.

“The Grosvenor once was the place to be, in fact, my wedding reception was held there 30 years ago, and it holds a lot of memories for people across the city. However, our environment and the city is rapidly changing and therefore I hope people also can look forward to the transformation of this key part of the city to make way for a development that Sheffield people want and need, which can transform the city’s retail and commercial offer for generations to come.”

About Sheffield Retail Quarter

Sheffield Retail Quarter will transform the heart of Sheffield. The scheme will offer a mix of retail units, restaurants and entertainment venues alongside high specification offices and homes. The site will be defined by a landmark office building to be occupied by HSBC and a wider development that delivers a new mixed-used quarter in the heart of the city.

The scheme, being delivered by Sheffield City Council and Queensberry, will regenerate the area in between Charter Square, Barker’s Pool and Pinstone Street. The incorporation of historic and cutting-edge architecture, as well as high quality public realm, will make the development uniquely ‘Sheffield’

Work on site has started on the first phase of the SRQ, which includes 160,000 sq ft of office space and around 57,500 sq ft of retail space. HSBC has signed as the anchor tenant on a 15-year lease which commits a vitally important employer to the city centre. Main construction activity is due to start in spring 2017 with completion of the building and new public realm due to complete in the first half of 2019.